>> Monday, June 13, 2016

Colorum vehicles
under cops’ ‘protection’

By Mar T. Supnad and
Nelson Bolos

PANIQUI,
Tarlac — Legitimate passenger jeepney operators
said they fear impending breakdown of law and order in the province due
to unabated operation of colorum vehicles who are reportedly “under protection”
of government officials and law enforcers.

Bernie Fajardo, leader of Tarlac Moncada-Gerona-Paniqui
Transport Service Cooperative, the 200-strong passenger jeepney operators, said
his group sought assistance from concerned authorities about unabated
operations of colorum passenger vans and other transport vehicles, to no avail.

The Tamogepas ought the relief of this town’s
LTO District officer Rogel Yambao and Tarlac City LTO District officer Estella
Nicolas.

They wanted Tamayo and De Jesus investigated
on the “proliferation of coilorum in Tarlac” but until now, they said, the
illegal practice goes on.

“We
are paying our franchise fees to government but no one is listening to us when
we complain about illegal operations of colorum transport vehicles in the
province. They operate with impunity under the very noses of the authorities,”
said Fajardo.

The
jeepney operators and drivers said they were hoping the incoming administration
of Rodrigo R. Duterte can swiftly and effectively address their plight and go
after erring government officials who benefit from operations of colorum
vehicles.

“We have complained numerous times to the LTO,
LTFRB, PNP, but they did not act against the colorum operators who are
affecting our legitimate source of livelihood. Each time we complain, we
are even subjected to harassment,” said Fajardo, chairman of the Tamogepa.

Last March 18, Tamogepa submitted
separate complaints before the LTFRB and LTO regional offices
against the operation of the more than 160 colorum white vans,
but both offices failed to address our woes, said Fajardo.

“Only President Duterte is our hope for
positive change in government. We hope the next administration apprehend all
colorum vehicle operators and their protectors), said Fajardo, a former
OFW-turned-jeepney operator-driver.

On March 18, Tamogepa officers submitted
separate complaints to LTFRB region 3 Director Zona Russet Tamayo and to LTO
Region Director Marina Tamayo against the “unabashed” operation of more than 160 colorum white vans but the offices
“paid mere lip service to their complaint and conducted “moro-moro
apprehension” of the illegal utility vehicles.

The 1964 Republic Act 4136 says, "The
Philippine Constabulary (now the PNP) and the city and the municipal police forces
are hereby given the authority and the primary responsibility and duty to
prevent the violation of this Act and carry out the police provisions hereof
within their respective jurisdiction"

Fajardo also revealed that since they
submitted their complaint to Lacadin, he and almost all the Gerona-based
members of Tamogepa were apprehended by the Gerona police allegedly on orders
of the town’s chief of police Supt. Ariel Red.

Apparently, all Tamogepa members apprehended
by the Gerona police were for “illegal terminal” for picking passengers at the
bus stop along the Mac Arthur highway fronting Gerona police station.